Founders Day celebrates 150th birthday of Western Oregon University
Founders Day provides an abundance of activities for students, staff, faculty, and public
Judy McClintock
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More than 150 years ago, a group of settlers from Illinois made the long trek to Oregon on the mission of opening a Christian college.
The Disciples of Christ, as they called themselves, decided on the plot of land, and declared the town to be called Monmouth through a democratic vote.
In 1956, a mere six years from when they first started their journey to the Pacific Northwest, Monmouth University was founded. It was partnered with the Christian Church of Monmouth, and tuition was approximately $5 for English and $9 for Latin, Greek and Trigonometry.
On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Western Oregon University will celebrate this beginning and its 150th birthday.
Founders Day has a plethora of activities open to students and the public for the sesquicentennial celebration.
The day's activities is a start to a year-long celebration of the founding of Western and the town of Monmouth, according to Leta Edwards, vice president of University Advancement and executive director of the WOU Foundation.
This time, Edwards said, "is an exciting time to be on campus." She urges students to "take the opportunity to make these memories," and to "take advantage of these activities."